Most home systems are not permanent. You must use a unit where you insert a
probe into the follicle if you want permanent results.
I do not personally recommend do-it-yourself electrolysis. Most
people, even those who had success, say that it's easier and more
convenient just to get it done professionally. However, if you
decide you want to try it, these suggestions from consumers can
improve your chances for success:
Comfortable work area
Set up with a solid surface and a comfortable chair.
Mirror
You might want to invest in a high-quality lighted magnifying
make-up mirror.
Tweezers
You may want to purchase better tweezers than the ones that
come with the unit. Many consumers say this makes an enormous
difference. Some have recommended Tweezerman's website (www.tweezerman.com),
which has a dealer list. I suggest getting slant-edged tweezers.
Pull your alcohol swab through the jaws often to make it
easier to grasp hairs.
Don't drop them. It's the most common cause of problems.
Work over a towel or carpeting in case you do drop them.
Make sure they stay well aligned. Some suggest sharpening
them on occasion using fine sandpaper.
Lighting
Some find working in direct sunlight can make treatment easier.
The more light you have, the better.
Batteries
If you have a lot of hair to remove, you may want to invest
in rechargeable batteries and a charger. Some suggest a wall
pack that has a 9v plug tail on it, but this is less safe
than rechargeable batteries. An adapter can short and send
wall current through you face.
Probes
The needle is actually blunt. It shouldn't pierce the skin
- it should just slide into the follicle along side the hair.
The probe bends very easily because it's so thin, so be careful
not to brush it against anything.
One consumer suggested buying or making your own insulated
probes to avoid burning the hair shaft pathway and get all
the voltage to the root where it needs to be.
-
Take and dip the tip, hair size part of the needle into
a clear nail polish.
-
After it dries place it back in the machine.
-
Extend the tip and use a fingernail file or fine emery
paper and sand the tip.
Salt for saline solution
You will need to keep your fingers moist with a saline solution
to complete the current with the device. Ordinary table salt
will do. Mix according to instructions.
Sterilization equipment
Work clean! You can get infections and skin damage from unsterile
working conditions. If you are sharing a device with someone
else or bought a used device (which I don't recommend), you
must sterilize it even more carefully. Always clean your tools
thoroughly before and after each session.
Antibacterial soap for washing
hands and face before treatment
Isopropyl alcohol for probes and
tweezers
Fresh paper towel to put your tools
on.
Epilate before you start
Pluck or wax all the hairs in the area to be treated before
you start, and then treat hairs as they come back. Hairs are
killed more easily when they are growing.
Moisturize
Skin moisture is really important for these devices to work
right. Without it, you will have a harder time getting results,
and it's more likely you'll injure your skin.
Use tons of moisturizer on the treated area every day, especially
right after a shower or bath. You might even try treatment
right after a shower.
You should also make sure you’re drinking plenty of
water. If you live in a dry climate, you should get a humidifier
to help keep your skin's moisture content higher.
Learn
Some recommend purchasing a good book on electrolysis. I
recommend Richards
and Meharg's textbook.
Some found a couple of professional galvanic treatments helpful,
to see how it's done and how it feels. Thermolysis is very
different, so try to get a place with galvanic-only treatment
available
Practice
Many users recommend practicing on an area other than your
face. Others report it's easier and less painful on the face
than on the body, and that the differences in face and body
hair make non-face practice unnecessary.
Help
Have a friend do hard-to-reach areas. That means you have
to trust in your friend's ability, too. Maybe you can do some
for them in return. If using a machine with someone else,
always disinfect and never use the same probe that another
person uses. Most people recommend using a pro for this.
Moisture
The device works with water in your skin, so the more water,
the better it works. Work in a moist room and keep skin moist.
Keep fingers moist with the saline solution you mix up, "but
not too moist," according to one manufacturer. If you
get it too moist, it will set off the tone before it should
go off.
Don't do too much at once
They recommend doing no more than a square inch at a time.
Take your time on fine hairs
Small hairs are difficult because expanding the tiny follicle
to accommodate the extra bulk of the needle requires a much
larger stretch of the tissue in terms of the total follicle
size.
Dark background
Some find that having something dark behind you makes it
easier to see fine hairs in a mirror.
Allow for recovery time
Plan work to give the swelling time to go down before anyone
will see the treated area. Leave at least 2 days till you're
familiar with your own reaction to treatment.
Wait to complete the circuit
Some consumers like to keep their fingers off the metal band
on the stylet until they've completed the insertion, because
they don't want it to start heating up until they're all the
way in the follicle.
Take treatment breaks
Take breaks from regular treatment after a few sessions so
that you can see if the hairs were killed or just plucked.
hair removal
facts
for consumers
